Calculating device



May 8, 1945. M. w. LA FEVER CALCULATING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28, 1945 Illlllllll WITHIN Maler/ER NLFn/fe.

May 8, 1945.-

M. w. LA FES/ER CALCULATLNG DEVICE Filed May 28, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 8, 1945. M w LA FEVER 2,375,666l

CALCULATING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1943 C5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I lllllll' l hh. III lllllllll'lllllllllllllllll'l Patented May 8, 1945 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE CALCULATING DEVICE Mortier W.' La Fever, Arlington County, Va.

Application May 28,1943, Serial No. 488,834

Claims.

for its object the extension in the iieldof uses of a patented device issued under Letters Patent No. 2,228,274, by supplying additional means of determining, simply andfaccurately, with a direct reading. of differences between specied quantities. The. improvements herein described are particularly suitable `where scales of measurements are not expressed in geometric units and where a unit and a fractional unit are involved, particularly where the full cycle of the unit series of the desired scale consists of large numbers of units, as for example, one or more cycles of degrees and minutes in which 360 degrees constitute a cycle, or hours and minutes throughout a month, or hours and minutes through one week carried through any of `the twenty-four time zones of the world with automatic correctionfor timezone diierences, etc.

The object of my invention is to simplify the procedure necessary to determine the difference between two amounts otherwise confusing to handle,` with either or both statedas a unit and a fraction, asfor example, from 197 27'` in one` cycle of degrees ,to. 32 11 ein thenext cycle. Simplicity of operation and -theprovision of windows or indicators inor at which appears they absolute difference between the quantities set on the scales, makes the device desirable for use in navigation, avig'ation, surveying. time problems involving time zones, engineering, banking, payrollwork, and in many .other `fields of endeavor.

I have illustrated in the accompanyingidrawings a working device, as appliedto degrees andrangementV of the calibrated scale onslide-S with the centralportion removed to enlarge the view.

Fig'. 1c is an enlarged detailed view of thearrangement of the minute scaleonslide 4 with the central portionfremoved to enlarge the view.

Fig. 2 is airontelevational view. Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show4 the successive operationalpostions of slides Anumbered l, 2, 3` and,v

respectively, in,determiningthel number of. de.-

- (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amendedAprl 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) grecs and minutes of difference between an example: 170 26' and 266 and 03.

Fig. 3, with slide I drawn to proper position and with the first column-selecting slide 3a posi'- tioned` over the170 in column D, indicates the first setting.

Figli, with slide 2 drawn to proper position to show 26, indicates the second setting.

-Fig;,5, with slide 3 drawn t0 proper position and withthe master column-selectingslide 3b positioned over 266 in column F of slide I, indicates the third setting,

Fig.` 6, with slide 4 drawn to proper positionto show 03,', the last item constituting the problem, is the nal operation and gives the absoluteresult 37 in the right-handwindows or indicators of the device.

Figs. 78,v8a, 9, 10, 1l, 12 and 12a are exploded views showing the eight individual parts of the embodiment in perspective.

Fig.y 7 is a top perspective of slide I.

Fig. 8 is a top perspective of the master columnif.

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section taken on line lll- I4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is `atransverse section taken on line I5I5 of Fig. 13.

While the device is shown and describedas applying principally to a 360-degree cycle other scales may be applied and the -last three figures described yhereinafter are presented to illustrate a method of making time zone corrections or for similar purposes.

In the drawings the adaptation shown to describe my improvements comprises slides I, 2, 3, 3a, 3b, 3c and 4, and the chassis or block 5 (Fig. l2). The improvements over the device covered by my Patent No. 2,228,274 include changes in the principles involved in the construction of slides I, 3 and 4, and the addition or columnselecting slides 3a and 3b, the finder slideV 3c, and a means of adjustment, for time zone corrections or problems of similar nature. .in the relative position of the window of slide 3b to the position of any given value carried in the columnar scale of slide 3.

Slide I is provided with a calibrated scale of 360, constituting a cycle but arranged in seven equal columns lettered A, B, C, D, E, F and G (see Fig. la), with like spacing in each column and between columns. The columns are disposed lineally of the slide, and each covers 90 degrees, the first reading downward from through 90, the second from 45 through 135, the third from 90 through 180, etc. The top 45 degrees of each successive column, after column A, overlaps the bottom 45 degrees of the previous column, in order that any beginning degree may always be located in the columnar series at a point above the ending degree.

Slide 3 is provided with seven vcolumns of de grees similar to 'scale I, but the first reading downward from 89 through O with an extra 0 (see II, Fig. 1b), the second reading downward from 134 through 44, the third from 179 through 89, etc.

The front of slide 3 is provided with a mounting I8 (See Fig. 9) including ways I9, a recess 20 and a stop 2I in which from right to left is nested a master column-selecting slide 3b (see Fig. 8). Slide 3b in turn is provided with a rigid tongue 'I, a recess 22 corresponding to recess 20 in the slide 3 mounting I8, and longitudinally with ways 23 to receive a slidably operable column-selecting slide 3a provided with a window 6 registering with recesses 22 and 2D through which selected calin brations on the scale of slide I jmay be visualized. The rigid tongue 'I projects through ways I I provided on a slide 3c (see Fig. 12a) provided with a window lil. By this arrangement slide 3c will be given the same horizontal motion which may be utilized in any necessary movement of slide 3b from one columnar setting to another. The window I0 of slide 3c is of a width which corresponds to the width of one column on slide 3, and of a length which corresponds to thewidth of the elongated window 3 in the block or chassis 5 to be described hereinafter.

Horizontal slides 2 and 4 carry minute scales, as distinguished from scales of degrees with which slides I and 3 are provided. In other words, the fractional units of each of the scales of slides 2 and 4 equal one unit of the scales of slides I and 3. In the embodiment shown, slide 2 is provided with two calibrated minute scales I2 and I3 disposed in a single lineal line (see Fig. 11), each reading left to right 00 through 59, butwith a gap I4, explained hereinafter, between the two series. Slide 4 is provided with two 00'through 59 minute scales I5 and I6 (see Fig. 10) disposed parallel to each other but with one lineally advanced with respect to the other, for purposes eX- plained hereinafter, a distance corresponding in length to that of the gap I4 on slide 2.

Slide 2 is also provided with two offset pairs of lineally disposed parallel openings 24-25 and 26-21 with a dividing portion of the slide providing a gap between the oset pairs of openings. The gap between openings 24 and 26 corresponds in length to the'gap I4 in the scales of slide 2, whereas the gap between openings 25 and 21 is reduced from the length of the gap I4 by an amount corresponding to the width of the columnar structure of slide 3. Openings 24 and 26 are so positioned or ofset as to make the side by side minute scales I and I6, respectively on slide 4 visible therethrough. The other openings 25 and 2'I are each of a width corresponding to the height of one horizontal series contained in the columnar scale structure of slide 3. These openings 25 and 2'I` are offset sufciently as to successively expose or make visible the degrees of two successive horizontal series of the scale of slide 3. In other words, openings 25 and 2 are offset suiiiciently to indicate a drop of one calibration, or one degree, on the scale of slide 3 when slide 2 is moved sufliciently to cause the gap between openings 25 and 21 to pass over the scale on slide 3, thereby bringing4 opening 2l into registry with a horizontal row of degrees next beneath the row exposed through opening 25 before the gap between those openings was moved across slide 3. The purpose of this offset is to diminish the measure of degrees by one in any case where the number of minutes in the beginning angle is greater than the number of minutes in the second or ending angle, as, for example, 26 and 266 03'.

Slide 4 is provided with an opening 28 of a width equal to the combined widths of openings 25 and 21 in slide 2 over which one or the other or parts of both of the latter are superimposed, and whereby figures of the calibrated scale on slide 3 may be visualized therethrough. Slide 4 is further provided with a channel or trough 29 open at both ends and in which slide 2 may be slidingly nested.

The chassis or block 5 is provided, as shown in Fig. 12, with openings 33 and 34 laterally therethrough but on different planes for carrying slides I and 3 and is also provided with another opening 35 for carrying slides 2 and 4 in nested relation beneath and transversely of slide I and above and transversely of slide 3. The block 5 is also provided with an elongated window 8 of sufficient dimension to reveal all scale readings in two contiguous horizontal series contained in the columnar scale structure of slide 3 when carried in openings 34. The block 5 is further provided with windows 3| and 32 for exposing single calibrations on the scales of slides 2 and 4 respectively when carried in opening 35. The block is still further provided with ways 9 which guide slide 3c, causing only the horizontal movements to correspond to those of slide 3b. Slide 3c is provided with a nder window I0 which exposes the proper answer, on slide 3 through opening B, in accordance with the setting of slide 3b. Slide 3c is also provided with ways I I in which tongue I of slide 3b is slidable and by which the longitudinal movement of slide 3c is controlled by the longitudinal movement of slide 3b.

Window 6 of slide 3a is appropriately marked Deg for the successive setting and reading of the degrees or whole numbers of the minuend and subtrahend of a given problem on the scale of slide I. Similarly, window 3l of block 5 is appropriately marked Min. for the successive setting and reading of theI minutes or fractional numbers of the minuend and subtrahend of a given problem on the scales of slide 2. On the other hand, window I0 of slide 3c isappropriately marked Deg for the reading of the degrees or whole numbers of the answer or result on the scale of slide 3. Similarily, window 32 of block 5 is appropriately marked Min for the reading of the minutes or fractional numbers of the answer or result on the scale of slide 4.

For the purpose of clearly describing the actual workings of the device, reference is made to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. Assuming a problem in surveying in which the angular difference between two lines is required, the first being 170 26 from the point of beginning, and the second 266 03', the rst, second, third and fourth steps in operating the device are shown successively in the four iigures mentioned. In setting the device at zero before asvaeeef settingitlie slides'to show the; desired difference in the speciiiedfreadings, see Fig.' 3, slides 2 and 4 are moved to the beginningipositionby moving them through the block to .the right untiltheir zero position is indicated in window 3|; slide 3b is thenmoved to the left against stop-2 I and by this movementof slide 3b ,window Ill of slide 3c will be brought into registry with the first column of the,

scale of slide 3; slide 3a is next moved to the right in slide 3b as far asit will go so any full horizontal series of calibrated scales on slide I may be visualized through the coordinated openings 20 in slide 3, 22 in slide 3b, and 6 in slide 3d; slide 3 with its satellite slides 3b and 3a are then adjusted to the beginning .positions by moving slide 3 upn ward until its zero position is indicated in window I0. In this position slide- 3c coordinates with y slide 3b andstands in the zero position with resetting, slide I is moved downward until the horizontal series of calibrated scales having 170, in theupper half of the calibrations, isin line with the common opening formed by 20, 22, vand 6, above inentioned.- Slide 3a is then adjustedto the left to outline through its opening 6 the beginning figure 170 whichhappens to be in column D (see Fig. 3). This is'the firstsetting. t I

It will be noted thatrthesucceeding second, third,and fourth settingsf-are respectively-with slidesk 2, 3 and 4, in the orderof the'items com stituting the problem, i. e., first setting 170, second setting 26', third setting-266, andlourth set ting 03'.

The second setting, shown in Fig, 4, is identical with thatof Fig. 3 in all respects except that slide 2 has been'moved independently of slide 4, `t0 the left suiiiciently to permit 26 of thevrst calibrated scale I2 to be revealed through the setting window3I by the rst and second settings given the mixed number substrahend of 170 26 is now set upon the device.

For the thirdsetting, shown in Fig. 5, the setting of slides I and 2 are retained as shown in Y Figs. 3 and 4 and slide 3b has been moved to the right, carrying slide 3a with it, sufficiently to bring opening 6 Aof slide 3a over the column, which happens to be -columnR of slide! containing the l calibrated scale 266 somewhere below the horizon-r to the right on slidef3; the movement of slide 3- downward tocause thewindow 6 .in slide-3a to outline 266 in column F of slide I while slide 3c re mains stationary causes a reading of 96"- in the` third column of slide 3 to-be revealed-tlfiroughv iinder window I0 equivalent to the, diilerence in the 170 and 266o over whichr the `window 6 of slide 3a has been set. At this setting` the mixedl number substrahend has beenset rthe whole num" ber of the mixed number subtr'ahend has been set; and the diierence between the whole numbers of dow I Ilf of -slide? 3c, iuponf the scale of "slide r3.

At this point the-settings indicate the differencebetweenlrti-Z and 266 26', but the problemrposedcwaswthatof the difference between l probl-empOS; thus remains to berfsetx Slide 4 isstance, the tminutesmf the 'last i quantity are less` than :the minutos: of'thef first quantity, it.` is neces'- saryin orderilto: reveal the proper item v-to fmove slide-'4 V(carrying slide 2 with it inzthe relationshippxedvby thefsecondfsetting) sufficiently to thefleft as .tobring the'iigure 03V in the second series I3 oi; calibratedscales onsslide'2 into regise try-withwindow .3h In so dong'thes1ot'25-of slidel 2 passesxtoythe .left fbeyondwindow III of slide 4Zia-'and 1slot'y 2l; lof Islide y2- isvbroughtinto,

registry withv window :III `of slide 3c `and since xslot'f of. slide `4 is'already'inv registry therewith individual calibrations of slide 3 are visiblef throughwindowfl and slotszZ'If'and 28 of` slides l 2 and 4,? respectively. The lineal offset in. open'- ings: 25 Vand 21: of slide. 2 thus `cuts back the` read- Vingof@degrees-,ionitlievscale of slide' 3,"in nder window lffroing,'asvshownlin Fig. 5,130 95g1-as shown'c'inL-Fig: 6. At l.the same time, the move'- ment fofrslideZV'bythefmovement ofi slide 4,

fromf'the: positionv inwhich 26" in the rstfcalibrated scale,r I2 of 'slide 12 .could 4be visualized through window 3l to the position in whichf03" inthe second calibratedfscale vI3 of slidef2 Acould bei-correspondingly visualized;:caused the opene ing24 'inrslider 2,:.which registers' with and kexposes-calibrations ofscale I5 `onslid'e 4 through :mentrnodiedby the offset in the two series oicalibratedscales on slide4 measures the difference between the 26-minutes fof the first setting `and the, 03 ininutesin the next cycle koi minutes permitting the difference, 37 minutes, as shown inthe second calibrated scale of slide 4, to bevvisualized through the conjunctivized openings 32 in block 5, and 26,'in slide 2 (see Fig, 6). answer to the problenrposed, the 95 of the scale l of slide 3 being revealed through the conjunctivized openings 23 of slide 4, 21 of slide 2, 8 of block 5, and I0 of slide 3c, and 3l of scale I6 of slide l through the oonjunctivized openings 26 of slide 2 and 32 of block 5. This completes the solution of the problem' and by setting the slides back to their zero or beginning positions the device `is ready for the next problem.

Figures 13, 14 and l5 are shown for the purpose of showing a means tov solve a problem where the reading of the unit item may be affected by a second'variable. For example, the device adapted to the vconsideration of time,k in hours and minutes, automatically reduces the reading by one hour when the number of minutes c in the minuendi is lessv than the number of l minutes in the subtrahend. However, should a the Iminuend yand ,subtrahendfis indicated; in win-- Thus in Fig. 6 is shown the absolute carrying slide 3b at the beginning standard, as, for example,"Easte1'n time, and the nal setting in terms oi the ending quantity, as, for example, Pacific time, and the diierence recorded by the device will then show the difference in the clock readings properly modied for the changes in the time zones. This feature can be applied to any problem where a difference in standards as between the beginning quantity and ending quantity must also be allowed for. To bring about these results mounting I8 is adjustably mounted upon slide 3 in a manner whereby it may be moved upward and downward, by suitable means such as the positioning screw shown in Figs. 13 and 14, to and from positions for functioning in connection with time Zones involved in a problem. Reference 2id indicates a stop carried with the movable mounting I8 for engagement with block 5 when bringing slide 3 and its associated slides to zero position.

It is to be understood that although my device is herein described with scales, slots and parts in a deiinite relation on straight slides, discs may be utilized. Discs, however, have the effect of reducing the elds to which the device may be adapted. It is to be further understood that minor changes in construction may be necessary, but within the scope of my invention, to apply the principles to different scales of measure.Y

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended changes.

What I claim is:

1. A calculating device of the slide-rule type comprising a slide bearing a plurality of columns of numbers, a companion slide bearing an equal number of columns of numbers arranged in reverse order to the numbers of said rst slide, a column-selecting slide carried by said second slide provided with a pointer to selectively indicate one of a row of numerals on said first slide, a second column-selecting slide adapted to selectively indicate one of a transverse row of numbers on said second slide, and means for moving said column-selecting slides in unison.

, 2. A calculating device of the slide rule type, comprising a slide bearing consecutive numbers arranged in a succession of columns, a companion slide bearing consecutive numbers arranged in an equal number of columns corresponding to those of the -rst slide, the numbers being arranged in the reverse order from those on said rst slide, a transversely movable column selecting slide mounted on said second slide provided with a telescoping pointer adapted to selectively indicate one number of a transverse row oi numbers of said iirst slide, a companion columnselecting slide adapted to selectively indicate a number on said second slide, means carried by said first selecting slide for moving said second selecting slide, and a second pair of numeralbearing slides mounted transversely of said first pair, one slide of said second pair being super- .imposed upon and telescopically retained by the companion slide, said superimposed slide being provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots through one of which a scale on the retaining slide may be viewed and through two other slots offset by the width of a row of numbers on said first two slides through one or the other of which a number on the second of the first pair of said slides may be viewed.

3. A calculating device of the slide-rule type, comprising a slide bearing consecutive numbers arranged in a succession of columns` a companionslide bearing consecutive numbers arranged in reverse order from those on said rst slide and in an equal number of columns, a transverselymovable column selecting slide mounted on an extension of said second slide, a telescoping pointer carried by said slide, a companion column selecting slide provided with a window adapted to selectively indicate a number on said second slide, means extending from said rst selecting slide for moving said second selecting slide in unison therewith, a second pair of nested slides mounted transversely of said lirst pair, the superimposed slide of said nested slides bearing two sets ol numerically arranged numbers and provided with four longitudinally extending slots, each slot being longitudinally separated from a companion slot and offset therefrom a vertical distance edual to the spacing of two consecutive numbers in any given column of figures on said first two slides, and the supporting slide of said nested slides being provided with a longitudinal slot aligned with and of the combined width of two of the companion slots of said superimposed slide.

4. A calculating device of the slide rule type comprising a block provided with two parallel openings for guiding and supporting slides provided with scale spaced numbers, a third opening extending through said block at right angles to said parallel openings and offset therewith and two windows for revealing single numbers on said slides and an elongated window to reveal a row of numbers coniined in said openings, guideways carried by said block parallel with said third slide opening and on opposite sides of said elongated window, a slide bearing a plurality of columns of numbers mounted in one of saidA parallel slide openings, a second slide bearing a plurality of columns of numbers arranged in reverse numerical order to those of said rst slide a-nd provided with transverse integral ways, a column-selecting slide mounted in said latter ways provided with a rigidly attached tongue extending in a plane parallel with said parallel openings in said block, a Second column selecting slide mounted in said rst slide, a third column selecting slide mounted in said guideways of said block and provided with ways for said tongue and a window, a slide mounted in the third opening of said block provided with numerals opposite one window of said block and with one longitudinally extending slot for exposing numerals on said second slide, a fourth slide also provided with numerals aligned with a second of said windows superimposed upon and slidably mounted within said third slide and provided with four elongated slots for eX- posing numerals on said third slide as well as transverse lines of numerals on said second slide bearing a plurality of columns of numerals.

5. A calculating device of the slide rule type as dened in claim 2, characterized by having ways mounted on said second slide provided with means for at will varying the distance between said Ways and the rows of numbers on said second slide.

MORTIER W. LA FEVER. 

